Phobias

What is a phobia

• anxiety disorder which interferes with daily living

• irrational fear causing avoidance of the feared object

What 3 categories are phobias categories into

Specific phobias- phobia of an object, animal e.g. fear of needles

Social anxiety- phobia of social situations e.g. public speaking, public toilets

Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside or in a public place

Anxiety- Emotional (feelings) characteristics of Phobias

• Uncomfortable high arousal state that prevents relaxation or positive emotion.

• Thought is focused on a future encounter with the phobia

Fear- emotional (feelings) characteristics of phobias

• Intense emotional state of panic linked to flight or fight response when presented with the phobia.

• It’s more intense, but last for less time than anxiety

Irrational beliefs- cognitive (thoughts) characters of phobias

• Person overstates the potential danger of phobia or importance of social situation

• E.g. person with fear of dogs may think a dog is out to get them

Reduced cognitive capacity- cognitive (thoughts) characteristics of phobias

• person focuses attention on phobic object to extent that it interfere with other tasks

Avoidance- behavioural (actions) characteristics of Phobias

• behavioural adaptions like crossing street are made to avoid encouraging of phobia

Panic- behavioural (actions) characteristics of phobias

• uncontrollable, physical response of screaming, crying, hyperventilating

Failure to function- behavioural (actions) characteristics of phobias

• inability to conduct normal behaviour due to excessive thoughts or avoidance

Emotional characterises of phobias

Anxiety, fear

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

Irrational beliefs, reduced cognitive capacity

Behavioural characteristics of phobias

Avoidance, panic, failure to function